Showalter provides updates on Gonzalez and Roberts

The sun is trying to peek through the gray clouds hovering over Camden Yards. The tarp is on the field, but it's no longer raining. The forecast isn't good, but the Orioles will attempt to play tonight. Kansas City has already been subjected to five postponements and had 10 days off in April, and the Royals don't come back to Baltimore after this series. Also, there's more rain in the forecast Wednesday, which increases the urgency to play tonight. The Orioles will hold another weather meeting at 6 p.m., which includes manager Buck Showalter. "Being this close to shore, things blow in and out," Showalter said. "I can tell you, always a priority, and I'm in there, is the fans. But you understand that there's a lot of variables involved." Miguel Gonzalez is expected to throw in the bullpen on Thursday, and his next start will be pushed back to Friday or, more likely, Saturday in Minnesota. Gonzalez will have the blister on his right thumb covered by a bandage while he throws in the 'pen, but he can't wear it during a game, which makes no sense to Showalter. "It's getting better," Showalter said. "It's a blister underneath a callous. It's kind of good in a way that it broke, tore off, whatever you want to say, so we've gotten all the way down to the bottom, and now it's a matter of getting calloused over. "A hitter can use an elbow guard, a shin guard, batting gloves, tape his fingers, you name it. Use pine tar. But a pitcher can't wear a Band Aid to pitch. Go figure. "He'll take his work day with it covered. We've got two or three scenarios in place. We can push him back as far as Saturday if we want to. We'll see." Gonzalez left his last start after six innings and 80 pitches because of the blister. "You're not allowed to use anything that might appear on the ball, but you can bleed," Showalter said. "It's OK to bleed on the ball." Yeah, it seems pretty silly. "I wish we had some pre-approved cover that pitchers can use," Showalter said. "Every pitcher has callouses. It's just a matter of whether blisters form under the callouses." Showalter passed along news of Brian Roberts' appointment with Dr. Daniel Cooper in Dallas. Roberts is still experiencing discomfort related to the ruptured tendon behind his knee. "He doesn't feel like it's moving at the pace he was hoping to see," Showalter said. "He had talked to Dr. Cooper some on the phone, and the way I understand it, I think he's flying there tomorrow. He had started taking some light BP and didn't like the rate that it was progressing. "He started taking some batting practice and just didn't like the way it felt. He said he wasn't expecting that with the progression that we've done and I think he's just a little frustrated that it hasn't come faster. "Dr. Cooper was involved with (Evan) Longoria's hammy last year. I know Dr. Cooper in Dallas. The Cooper Clinic, him and his dad are renowned. (Roberts) just wants to get a feel there for what (Cooper) thinks and see if there's something that he or we can do differently, and we welcome that." Roberts still isn't a consideration for the 60-day DL at this point, even if the Orioles need to create a spot on the 40-man roster. "No more than he was before," Showalter said. "I'm not looking at it that way. I'm still holding out hope that this will get moving. I like the fact that we don't have a need for it yet." Shortstop J.J. Hardy received an injection in his right elbow from Dr. Lewis Yocum before the Orioles left Anaheim on Sunday. He's got the equivalent of a light case of tennis elbow, according to Showalter. Nothing serious.